24 comments:

Even if you did paint over wood, you are bringing LIFE back to these pieces, life and character and STYLE!! Keep on doing what you're doing, your furniture is amazing and don't let the naysayers boil you!!!

thank you...I used to refinish wood furniture and now I paint it, so I KNOW the difficulty of covering up good wood...HONESTLY if it was that great it wouldn't have ended up in the junk pile for me to pick through in the first place!HugsKarinwww.artisbeauty.net

Love it, we'll said. Drives me insane when you find a piece almost falling apart and then people say you've ruined when you've spent hours restoring it first! Pay no attention to the naysayers, your work is beautiful xx

Can I just shout AMEN!!! I had a piece at a recent show, that was in horrible shape when we got it. I painted it with several techniques and layers and it was beautiful. I would bet that 100's of people walked by it and touched and remarked at how beautiful it was, many stood there trying to find a spot in their home for it. Finally, one woman walks up, she is looking at it, i suanter up with a smile, surely she must love it just like 100's before her. Nope, hands on hips, she said, 'how could you do that to that dresser??!!' Huh??? I was stunned. I started to defend myself . . . you should have seen it before . . . she went on and on about how i ruined it. Don't worry, I kept my witness and didn't slap her ;-) But, man, was I frustrated! So, I hear ya!

Love this! I've definitely been having the same problem lately. I actually had a "Paint! Oh God No!" on my page. I simple responded with"Why wouldn't I? I do paint furniture for a living you know?" I don't understand if it WAS in good shape...where can you find anything but, MDF these days to customize for our needs these days? They have no idea how difficult and time consuming just repairing a drawer can be. Thank you for posting. It helps so much to vent through and with anyone that knows just how you feel!

Perfect!!!! While recently looking for vendor space at an antique mall, the manager told me that their clients are looking for pieces which are original. She went on to say that painting furniture devalues the piece. Graciously, I thanked her for her time and moved on to rent my very own studio!!! Now I have room to paint my furniture and display!! Wish me luck....

The people who have the nerve to say anything about you painting furniture need to go find the people who ruin the pieces in the first place and complain to them! I just got a gorgeous oak antique dresser that was used as a stand for a fish tank! Not only did they nail a frame of molding on the top an ruin it with at least 25 nails, but they hacked off all the legs! Or how about the people who store beautiful antiques OUTSIDE??? You are giving the pieces the respect they deserve by bringing them back to life after someone else did the damage. And you are doing it at the highest standards possible!Just know for every compliant you get I am sure there are 10 times more people who love what you did!

I get this sometimes from people as well. I agree with everyone else who has posted- a painted piece of furniture that is loved is far better off than an unpainted piece of furniture that ends up in disrepair in some damp basement. Also, my day job is working for a high end antiques dealer (we're talking 18th century highboys etc). Painting 18th and early 19th century furniture is bad bad bad- but the stuff that most of us as furniture refinishers are working on was made at the end of the 19th through the late 20th century. It was mass produced, it was never meant to be "fine" furniture. For every piece that we paint, there are ten more out there that are unpainted. So paint away and ignore the haters. :)

Clap Clap Clap i am giving you a standing ovation here!!!! I am so sick of people saying the same thing to me. I love wood, I love antiques,I would never ruin furniture. but like you these things come to me trashed. We give them new life, they are no longer in the back of someone's garage or basement. They are now the vocal point of a room. And like you said its paint, it comes off. I use Anne Sloan Chalkpaint it comes off with water for gosh sakes.love love love your post, well said Clap Clap Clap , hugs Tobey

Keegan came with me to get a desk last night. In the car on the way home, I asked him what color I should paint it. Know what he said? "I don't think you should paint it. It's nice and the wood would look really great in an all white room." Who's kid is this????

Great post! Just read it as you referenced it again after Marcotte's got blasted for the "to paint or not to paint" fb post. It's amazing the opinions that people are willing to share when they aren't taking out their wallets to "save that wonderful antique from paint ruin". I paint furniture too, and as many of your commenters have said, that antique is probably hiding in someones musty garage not being appreciated the way it would be if painted and pretty :)

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We are a husband and wife team whose passion is to take cast-aside, unloved furniture pieces and turn them into something wonderful. I've been known to also take up a needle and thread on occasion (usually under duress!) so watch for custom made soft furnishings, as well!